The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-10-29
MCDONALD SPEAKS.

Ex-senator Mcdonald was here only
a few days. but he was here long
enough to obtain very correct idea Of
the situation, and to get at the true In
wardness of things in this Territory.
Furthermore, the gentleman has the
courage to speak of matters as they are
which is a good deal to do in these
times when a man is denounced as
traitor for telling the truth concerning
the Mormons. The ex-senator spent a
couple of days in Denver this week,
where he was royalty entertained by
the Greystone Club, and was shown
great consideration by leading citizens
generally. The Rocky Mountain Nes0s
refers to the distinguished gentleman
as "Indiana's sound Salesman" and
one of its reporters managed to inter
view him. Among other things Nc
Donald said:
'rYev, have been in Salt Lake." said he,
dropping into Settee at the windsor, and
looking at the Nelgs reporter with an air TO
determine his intervieWer's Intelligence.
81 have been with Mr.. Broadhead, of st.
Louis, engaged in representing the Mormon
corporation in the suit of the government to
partment of it. The hearing lasted some
time, and am now on my way home. No,
the case isn't settled yet, but the arguments
are all in. The suit was brought under the
law enacted by the last Congress, and the
Mormon corporation contested its legality
as being diametrically opposed to the prin-
ciples Of the Constitution, as it is"
what are your impressions fconcerning
the law and the Mormons, senatorI"
We'll, the law is clearly violation OF the
Constitutional rights, and believe will not
hold. The corporation of the Church OF
Latter-day Saints, Is In no way that can
conjecture violation of the laws OF the
country, and has as much right to stand
as any other corporation in the country.
We are basing our defense of the suits upon
the construction placed by the Supreme
Court upon analogous questions involving
the Constitution. The Mormons regard the
passage of the. law and its enforcement
as prosecutions and Tb seems to me
stories of the monstFous acts Of
the Mormon people have NO foundation in
fact, as far as have observed. They are
progressive, go-ahead people, and as rule
are of superior intelligence. Their prac
tice of polygamy Is recognized by them to be
detrimental to Republican form of gov
eminent, and while they cannot be said to
be convicted, they manifest disposition to
desist from violating 1t. 1t is of course
part of their creed, and as such holds
sacred place in their religious views. But
at the same time they appreciate the fact
that the political system of America is based
upon social foundation which must be
universal. am under the impression that
the stories about the mormon church are
greatly exaggerated, and are the cause or
the great prejudice that exists in the eoun.
try:
the M0rmons as due to lot Of adventurers
who have gone out there to make money
and who are at the bottom ofthe agitation
and dissemination of prejudice in order to
drive the Mormons out and reap the benefit
of their labor and property. The line be-
tween the Mormols and Gentiies is not so
broad and bitterly maintained as has been
supposed. In fact, very little feeling ap-
pears on the surface, and even from casual
investigation. People will tell you stories
of the most atrocious practices. but they
make no effort to substantiate their asser-
lions, and could not do 1t if they tried. The
leading men of the Mormon corporation are
striking examples of their intelligence, ana
as the practice of pOlygamy has been abol-
ished In Difference to the laws of the cOun-
Try, 1 fail to appreciate the necessity for
such laws IS the one we have been contest
ing"
Senator Mcdonald will now CONS in
for much filthy abuse st the hands Of
an irresponsible press, but inssmuch as
be has told the absolute truth. and Is q
good desl bigger than the press which
viii assail him. he will suffer none.